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The aim of this study is to investigate the economics of renewable energy- powered desalination, as applied to water supply for remote coastal and desert communities in developing countries. In this paper, the issue of integration of desalination technologies and renewable energy from specified sources is addressed. The features of Photovoltaic (PV) system combined with reverse osmosis desalination technology, which represents the most commonly applied integration between renewable energy and desalination technology, are analyzed. Further, a case study for conceptual seawater reverse osmosis (SW-RO) desalination plant with 1000 m³/d capacity is presented, based on PV and conventional generators powered with fossil fuel to be installed in a remote coastal area in Egypt, as a typical developing country. The estimated water cost for desalination with PV/ SW-RO system is about $1.25 m³, while ranging between $1.22-1.59 for SW-RO powered with conventional generator powered with fossil fuel. Analysis of the economical, technical and environmental factors depicts the merits of using large scale integrated PV/RO system as an economically feasible water supply relying upon a renewable energy source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing potable water demand associated with water shortage in remote coastal communities mandates identification and evaluation of viable water supply options. This paper addresses technical and financial analysis of water supply options in northwest Egypt as a typical remote coastal community on the Mediterranean. Water supply and energy availability are the main challenges hindering possible potential development schemes. Population reallocation programs being the core of any development plan should rely upon availability and accessibility of water and energy resources. The technically feasible proposed options for water supply scenarios to northwest Egypt comprise long-distance water transfer pipeline (LDWTP), large-scale desalination, or a combination of the two. Each option has been incorporated with a water reuse component and investigated for a daily capacity of 200,000m³/d of fresh water. Since all the options are energy intensive in nature, they have been assessed from economic and energy standpoints. Thus, both conventional and small nuclear energy supply schemes have been considered. The estimated capital costs were $M 741.9, 260.0, and 634.5, while the unit water costs were $/m³ 0.92, 0.73, and 0.81 for LDWTP, desalination and joint LDWTP/desalination options, respectively. The merits of cost-effectiveness, energy saving, technical reliability, and environmental aspects were manifested by the second proposed option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual pesticides in industrial effluents of pesticide industry manifests a serious threat for sustainability of the biological wastewater treatment plants and also to nearby surface and ground water. This article is concerned with the separation of malathion using nanofiltration (NF), clay adsorption, and combination of both processes. Malathion removal using NF tubular ceramic membrane is ranged from 93.5 to 99.4% with malathion concentration range from 5.7 to 17.1 mg/l. Adsorption of malathion (0.4-2.9 mg/l) using Egyptian clays (kaolin and bentonites) reached about 0.65 mg/g. Sodium bentonite (Na-B) exhibited maximum adsorption capacity and removal as compared to kaolin (K) and calcium bentonite (Ca-B). The natural pH values of the different investigated clays in malathion solutions were 6.7, 7.3, and 9.5 for K, Ca-B, and Na-B, respectively. An integrated system of NF and clay adsorption permits effective control on the quality of NF permeates. Endeavors are currently underway to explore cost-effective treatment of NF concentrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary treatment effluent resulting from combined domestic and industrial sewage is characterized by the presence of undesired pollutants such as heavy metals and hazardous organic materials. The disposal and/or reuse of such effluent necessitate further treatment to remove such pollutants. In this paper, an experimental investigation on the treatment of secondary treated wastewater from 6th October city treatment station is presented. The investigated parameters are COD, BOD, TSS, and heavy metals. The experimental treatment includes nanofiltration (NF) using aluminum-titanium ceramic membranes followed by adsorption using sodium and calcium bentonites. The results indicated removal efficiency of NF for COD, BOD, and TSS of 85, 84, and 100%, respectively. Further, the removal efficiencies of heavy metals are 100, 53, 100, and 100% for nickel, zinc, chromium, and lead, respectively. The overall removal efficiencies of heavy metals are 100, 100, 95, and 81% for chromium, lead, nickel, and zinc, respectively. The level of effluent Ni and Zn is less than 0.2 mg/l while Cr and Pb are not detected. A preliminary study for treating 50,000 m3/d of the secondary treatment effluent using NF/adsorption system concluded plant construction cost of about $ 16 million and a unit production cost of $ 0.16/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is devoted to: Analysis of significant endeavours directed to polymer base drug delivery systems, elucidating addressing priority problems and biopolymer development, significant R & D needs and priorities and the framework as well as the requirements for international networking in the area of drug delivery system. Such organized collaboration will enable promotion of knowledge among interested parties and cultures. Concerned pharmaceutical institutional and scientific associations e.g. International Pharmaceutical Federation FIP and American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences AAPS should adopt and initiate planned activities for developing and activation of appropriate drug network encompassing active members from the academic, professional centres and drug industry. The proposed network should be established on a self-sustained basis.